Dr. Obermeyer, District Councillor in Berlin-Mitte visited the Airbnb Community Stammtisch

Every month we welcome home sharers in the Berlin to the Airbnb office for the Community Stammtisch. The regulars’ table is a great opportunity to meet other hosts and learn more about product updates and home sharing news.

On June 5th we welcomed Dr. Obermeyer as a special guest. As district councillor for Civil Services in Berlin-Mitte, she and the city councillors of the other districts are responsible for implementing the new law prohibiting misuse.

The new rules now explicitly recognise home sharing in Berlin. In future, home sharers will generally be entitled to a short-term rental permit for their main or secondary residence. Unfortunately, the details of the licensing practice are still unclear. Politicians and the administration are still working on the implementation of this process, even though the law has been in effect since 1 May. This is anything but encouraging.

During the event, hosts described their predominantly negative experiences with the approval process and submitted concrete suggestions for improvement to Dr. Obermeyer. Among other things, the desire for a digital, fast and ultimately uncomplicated process was expressed. It also became clear that there was an urgent need for clear, publicly accessible and binding information on the implementation of the law. Many hosts feel unsettled by the city’s lack of information.

Regardless of this, hosts should still register as soon as possible if they wish to receive the necessary registration number by August 1. The city created an online page so hosts can do so. You can also find more details on our information page.

If you have any questions about the new law and the registration process, please contact us at [email protected] If you have already gained experience with the approval process, feel free to share it with us.